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Message: [QUOTE="Bob Godfrey, post: 185371, member: 136612"] While a ship was anchored in the 'quarantine ground' an immigration inspector and a doctor would be ferried aboard to examine the general conditions and health situation on the ship, to inquire about any specific incidents like a death, and to inspect the passenger manifests. The 3rd Class and Steerage passengers would not normally be inspected at this point (their turn would come later at Ellis Island) but the inspectors would need to be satisfied that any 'aliens' among the 1st and 2nd Class passengers were in good health, or at least showed no signs of contagious disease. I daresay this involved an examination of paperwork and consultation with the ship's doctors, rather than a personal examination of the passengers. If any were found to be suspect, they were marked for further examination along with the Steerage at Ellis Island. On average, about 2-3% of the cabin class passengers were consigned to Ellis. These procedures 'at quarantine' didn't take very long, but the inspectors' working day was from 7am to 5pm, so ships arriving in the evening were obliged to anchor for the night before they could receive attention. There are many personal accounts of the Ellis Island inspection procedures. Here's one from 1911, told by a Norwegian immigrant bound for Chicago: "We finally docked and went ashore. Our luggage came ashore, and had to be opened for custom inspection. Next both we and our luggage were put on a ferry and taken to Ellis Island. Getting off, we lined up two abreast, told to remove our hats and marched along a cement sidewalk up to the office building on the Island. On the way, a couple of doctors would look us over. They had a sort of tong, not unlike the curling irons women used to curl their hair with, before the unpermanent permanents came in style. With those they caught our upper eyelashes and turned up our eyelids. They were really good, we didn't even have to stop as we paced slowly by them. If we were passed, no marks were put on us, if they felt we needed closer examination, a chalkmark was put on your coat or overcoat, if you wore one. Inside, the building had alleys and pens, almost like the stockyards; we would pass up the alley with here and there a desk with a man behind it, to examine our papers and ask questions. In the end we were given our railroad tickets and were considered ready to enter the Promised Land. We got into a large assembly Hall with a counter along one sidewalk where we could buy eats and drinks, and also package lunch boxes to sustain us on the railroad trip to Chicago." . [/QUOTE]

Verification: In which year did the Titanic sail?